‘Real Estate Conflict of Interest’ Jeong Hyun-bok, Mayor of Gwangyang, Donates Part of Real Estate to Society

Through a Statement, "We Apologize to Citizens for Causing Concern and Worry"

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Heo Seon-sik] Jeong Hyeon-bok, former mayor of Gwangyang City, Jeonnam, who is under suspicion of conflict of interest as land owned by himself and his family has been consecutively developed, has stated his position.

On the 5th, Mayor Jeong released a statement regarding the social return of real estate, saying, “I will return the land in Singuri, Jinwol-myeon to society, and if it is sold, I will donate the entire amount to the Children’s Care Foundation and Baegun Scholarship Foundation.”

He said, “I promised to live in Gwangyang after retirement and return to being a villager. I am farming by fertilizing the plum trees planted on the land in Singuri, Jinwol-myeon. However, due to the road construction plan, there are allegations of preferential treatment, and I am deeply concerned that the promised projects with the residents of Jinsang-myeon and Jinwol-myeon, who are looking forward to the project because of my land, might fall through.”

He added, “Since the planned projects are progressing smoothly and I cannot disappoint the expectations of the residents who own land around the road, I intend to return the Singuri land under my spouse’s name to society,” and apologized, “I am sorry for causing concern and worry to the citizens.”

Meanwhile, Mayor Jeong recently faced controversy over conflicts of interest as a road was constructed on his land in Gwangyang-eup, and development was also proceeding on land owned by his wife.

In his statement, Mayor Jeong said, “If any legal responsibility arises, I will immediately resign from the mayoral position,” and firmly denied the allegations, saying, “I have never done anything shameful.”

The Democratic Party held an emergency Supreme Council meeting on the 2nd and expelled Jeong Hyeon-bok, mayor of Gwangyang City, amid speculation of speculation.

The party explained the disciplinary reasons as “non-compliance with the ethics inspection team’s investigation and expressing intention to leave the party.”

Additionally, issues regarding the hiring of relatives also surfaced.

A person identified as A, who worked at a local government in Jeonnam, submitted a complaint stating that five people, including relatives of Mayor Jeong, were improperly hired by Gwangyang City. The police plan to investigate by receiving the complaint and related materials voluntarily submitted by A.

In response, a Gwangyang City official said, “Among the five people suspected, it has been confirmed that three are relatives of Mayor Jeong,” and added, “They were hired through proper procedures, and we understand there was no preferential treatment.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.